The Church of England
PA to the Bishop of Blackburn
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JOB DESCRIPTION
The Personal Assistant works closely with the Bishop, delivering trusted and confidential support while helping to ensure the smooth and effective running of the Bishop's ministry and office. The successful candidate will act as the first point of contact for clergy, parish officers, and visitors, modelling a culture of warmth and hospitality. They will work alongside a committed and cohesive team to support the Bishop's ministry and the efficient running of the Bishop's office and household.
This key role requires a highly organised, proactive, and discreet individual who can strategically manage a demanding schedule, coordinate key events, and handle a wide range of administrative and logistical tasks. The ideal candidate will also be an effective communicator, possess excellent interpersonal skills, a high level of integrity, proactive administrative skills and a strong commitment to supporting the mission of the diocese.
This role could be suitable as a job share, so please indicate the amount of hours you may like to work within your application.
Closing date for applications is 24 August 2026.
Interviews will be held on 08 September 2026.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Diary and Correspondence Management
- Strategically organise and oversee the Bishop’s diary
- Judiciously triage and prioritise diary appointments
- Manage the Bishop’s email inbox and respond to written correspondence promptly
- Work collaboratively with the bishop in setting up effective inbox management systems
- Ensure the bishop is fully briefed and prepared for meetings, including ensuring agendas and meeting papers are available
Administrative Coordination
- Carry out core administrative processes in coordination with diocesan staff, Registry, Suffragan Bishops, and Archdeacons
- Maintain and update filing systems and records in line with best practice and House of Bishops Guidance
- Prepare Current Clergy Status Letters (CCSL), ensuring safeguarding and DBS compliance
- Plan and organise various aspects of the bishop’s personal responsibilities in order to facilitate an efficient ministry
- Relate well with the bishop as a trusted and discreet colleague
- From time to time be contactable outside of office hours, as necessary
Personal Assistance and Administration
Event and Visit Planning
- Organise travel and accommodation for meetings and events
- Where necessary, organise room bookings, catering and refreshments
- Arrange parish visits, clergy meetings, confirmation & licensing services, and other diocesan events
- Invite clergy to their Annual Conversation with the Bishop
- Attend and assist with training days and hospitality events
Office and Household Oversight
- Ensure smooth running of the Bishop’s office and household.
- Report necessary repair works
- Greet visitors warmly and provide hospitality
- Be the first point of contact for clergy and parish officers, handling or redirecting enquiries
- Facilitate and participate fully in the worshipping and prayer life of the House
- Enthusiastically support the diocesan vision and priorities of the Bishop’s ministry
- Maintain up to date knowledge and experience of the Church of England
Meeting Support
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- Take minutes and follow up actions for meetings, including the monthly Bishop’s Leadership Team meeting.
- Provide administration support for ad-hoc projects
Safeguarding
- Occasionally accompany the Bishop during visits to groups including children and vulnerable adults
- Share responsibility for safeguarding in accordance with the House of Bishops’ guidance, promoting a safe environment and reporting concerns appropriately
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential Qualifications and Experience
- Educated to A-Level standard or equivalent relevant experience
- Significant experience in a Personal Assistant, Executive Assistant, senior administrative, or office management role
- Proven experience of complex diary management and coordinating competing priorities
- Experience of handling confidential and sensitive information with discretion
- Experience of organising meetings, events, travel, and hospitality arrangements
- Experience of preparing correspondence, reports, agendas, and meeting papers
- Experience of taking accurate minutes and monitoring follow-up actions
- Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams
Desirable Qualifications And Experience
- Experience of working within the Church of England or a faith-based organization
- Experience of worship within the Church of England
- Experience of supporting a senior leader or public office holder
- Experience of safeguarding administration and compliance processes
- Experience of managing email inboxes on behalf of senior leaders
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of the importance of confidentiality, discretion, and professional boundaries
- Knowledge of effective office administration and records management practices
- Awareness of safeguarding responsibilities and the importance of promoting a safe culture
- Understanding of the need for accurate record keeping and compliance with policies and procedures
Desirable
- Knowledge of the structures and ministry of the Church of England
- Familiarity with House of Bishops' Guidance and safeguarding requirements
- Understanding of diocesan life and parish ministry
- Knowledge of ecclesiastical structures, governance, and terminology
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Outstanding organisational skills with the ability to manage a demanding and complex workload
- Excellent diary management and prioritisation skills
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to assess, triage, and respond appropriately to enquiries and correspondence
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build positive relationships with a wide range of people, including clergy and laity of the diocese
- Ability to work independently, use initiative, and anticipate needs
- High level of attention to detail and accuracy
- Ability to remain calm, flexible, and effective under pressure
- Strong IT skills and confidence using digital communication and collaboration tools
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a small and supportive team
- Ability to maintain appropriate confidentiality at all times
Desirable
- Ability to develop and improve administrative systems and processes
- Experience of managing projects or coordinating multiple events simultaneously
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Personal Qualities
Essential
- Warm, welcoming, and hospitable manner
- Integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness
- Tact, diplomacy, and emotional intelligence
- A proactive and solution-focused approach
- Resilience and adaptability
- Professional and approachable demeanour
- Commitment to providing excellent service and support
- Ability to work sensitively with people from diverse backgrounds and traditions
- Willingness to be occasionally contactable outside normal working hours when required
- Commitment to supporting the Bishop's ministry, the mission of the Diocese, and the values of the Church of England
Desirable
- An active interest in the life and mission of the Church
- Demonstrable understanding of the pastoral nature of episcopal ministry
Occupational Requirements
- A willingness to facilitate and participate appropriately in the worshipping and prayer life of Bishop's House
- Satisfactory safeguarding checks, including an enhanced DBS check
- Ability to travel within the Diocese of Blackburn when required
- Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults
ABOUT US
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About The NCIs
The National Church Institutions comprises a wide variety of teams, professions and functions that support the mission and ministries of the Church of England in its vision to be a church, centred on Jesus Christ, for the whole nation - a church that is simpler, humbler, bolder.
We Include. You Belong.
Our Belonging and Inclusion Strategy aims for everyone in the National Church Institutions (NCIs) to feel that they belong, and are valued for who they are and what they contribute. Together, our people contribute in different ways towards our common purpose, whichever NCI they work in and whatever their background.
Living out our values in all that we do, we:
- Strive for Excellence
- Show Compassion
- Respect others
- Collaborate
- Act with Integrity
We believe our commitment to belonging and inclusion fuels our progress and drives us forward. The NCIs are a safe, inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds and walks of life. We welcome applications from people of all faiths and of no faith. We want to encourage applications from a diverse group of people who share our values. Even if you have never thought about working for us before, if you have the skills and experience we’re looking for then we would like to hear from you.
Use of AI in your application
We appreciate that you may want to use AI tools to help you with your application. We're happy for you to use AI to come up with ideas and help structure your thoughts, but you shouldn't use AI to fabricate information or write your whole application for you. One of our values is integrity, and although we want you to demonstrate your best self, we don't want an AI-generated persona. If you simply copy and paste AI-generated content into your application, this will reduce your chances of success.
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